Manchester City vs Manchester United preview: Donnarumma could make derby debut

By Ric Turner, Fri 12 September 2025 14:34


Manchester City vs Manchester United preview: Donnarumma could make derby debutCherki, Ait-Nouri and Marmoush all missing for Blues, Stones doubtful

Manchester City vs Manchester United

Competition: F.A. Premier League

Date: 4.30pm, Sunday 14th September 2025

Venue: Etihad Stadium, Manchester

Referee: Anthony Taylor Assistants: G Beswick, A Nunn Fourth Official: S Hooper VAR: J Brooks

Odds: City 3/4, Draw 3/1, United 3/1

Tickets: Sold out

TV: BT Sport

Manchester City

Manager: Pep Guardiola

Squad (from): Donnarumma, Trafford, Ortega, Bettinelli, Dias, Stones, Ake, Gvardiol, Khusanov, Lewis, Reijnders, Gonzalez, Rodri, Silva, Nunes, O'Reilly, Phillips, Foden, Bobb, Haaland, Doku, Savinho

Injured: Kovacic, Cherki, Ait-Nouri, Marmoush

Doubtful: Stones

Suspended: None

Form guide: LLW

Manchester United

Manager: Ruben Amorim

Squad (from): Bayindir, Heaton, Lammens, Mazraoui, de Ligt, Maguire, Dorgu, Yoro, Shaw, Heaven, Leon, Fernandes, Casemiro, Ugarte, Mainoo, Zirkzee, Diallo, Mbeumo, Sesko

Injured: Dalot, Mount, Cunha, Martinez

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None

Form guide: WLDL

City will be without Omar Marmoush, Rayan Cherki, and Rayan Ait-Nouri for the 186th Manchester derby. John Stones is a doubt, whilst Mateo Kovacic continues to recover from surgery.

“Omar is injured from Egypt [international duty]. John Stones as well is a doubt.   Pep Guardiola said at Friday's press conference.

“[It’s] not a big issue, but he’s a doubt for Sunday.

“Rayan Cherki [is also injured] but the rest are fine.”

Italian goalkeeper Ginaluigi Donnarumma could make his City debut, following his £26m move from Paris Saint-Germain.

“Gigi’s a 26-year-old with incredible experience,”

“He’s so tall and so huge. All the keepers want to save balls and give confidence to the team and personality and he’s a big presence on the bigger stages.

“He did it in the UEFA Champions League last season at Villa Park and Anfield.

“In many games he proved how good he is. He will concede goals that’s for sure, but we’re all going to try to help him.”

City lost their last home game against United 2-1, with Josko Gvardiol netting for the Blues. Overall City have won 60 of the 185 games played against United, with 51 draws and 74 defeats.

Predicted line-up: Donnarumma, Khusanov, Dias, Ake, Gvardiol, Rodri, Silva, Rjeinders, Foden, Savinho, Haaland

Score prediction: City 1 United 1